San Felipe de Barajas Fort: Ticket Details, Opening Hours and Tips for Visitors

As the Statue of Liberty in New York and Peru is popular for Machu Pichu, the San Felipe Fortress in Cartagena is one of the most popular places in the city. The Fortaleza de San Felipe de Barajas is the largest fortress in Cartagena, Colombia that is the main attraction of the city. This fortress, a massive structure that encloses a hill completely in stones, is not to be missed. It is the largest fortress built by the Spanish on the mainland of South America and is the protector of Cartagena's rich colonial trade. Today, Castillo de San Felipe de Barajas is one of the most popular and worth visiting places in Cartagena. 

Due to the strategic location of Cartagena, the city became one of the popular ports of the Spanish. The only problem was that it was very easy to enter the city, both by sea and land. Because the Spanish decided to strengthen the defensive system, several forts were built in the 16th century. The fort was built by slaves from Africa under the supervision of the Spanish during the colonial era. The fort was involved in several wars within the 17th to early 19th century between the powers of Europe. One of them was the Fortaleza de San Felipe, which was impressive at that time and is still one of the best that a traveler can explore in Cartagena. Fortunately, the fort is very easily accessible to people from all around the world without the need to conquer it first. 

Read this article for a complete visitor's guide to San Felipe de Barajas Castle in Cartagena, Colombia, including history, visiting hours, entrance fee, how to get to the fortress from the city center and much more. 

History of San Felipe de Barajas 

During the 16th century, Cartagena became one of the most popular and largest cities in Spain. To protect the city from invaders, the Spanish built several fortresses. The San Felipe Fortress was built on the San Lazaro Hill which was one of the great fortresses of this time. The fortress was built in 1536 in the shape of a triangle on the hilltop, with eight batteries and a garrison of 200 soldiers and four gunners. It was named in honor of Philip IV of Spain. The walls of the fortress completely surrounded the hill, there were several cannons that an enemy could not expect, so it was easy to miss in the underground tunnels. Several wars were fought in the Castillo San Felipe de Barajas. Several things have changed, but one thing remains the same - the structure of the San Felipe Fortress which is still the most impressive structure in the city. 

The entrance fee to Castillo San Felipe 

• The entrance fee to Castillo San Felipe for foreign visitors is 36,000 Colombian pesos. 
• For Colombian citizens and residents with a Citizenship and Foreigner's Identity Card, the fee is 25,000 Colombian pesos.
• Children between 6 and 13, the entrance fee is 15,000 Colombian pesos 
• Children under 6 years old, Colombian citizens over 62 years old and members of the Colombian armed forces and police, admission is free. 

If you are interested in a guided tour, it costs an additional fee of 15,000 Colombian pesos per person or you can also opt for an audio guide. There is free admission on many Sundays in the last few months, usually except December and January. Free admission is only applicable to citizens and residents with a Colombian Citizenship and Foreigner ID. 

The Fortress Opening Hours 

If you want to avoid the crowds, visit San Felipe as early as possible; the entrance to the fortress opens at 7:00 am. The gates of the fortress close at 6:00 pm. On Mondays, the fortress is closed. On holidays, the hours of operation of the fortress vary, so before planning to visit there, check the opening hours on the official website. 

Tricks for Visitors 

Visit Early : To beat the heat and crowds, especially if you are planning to visit on weekends or free entry days. 

Apply Sunscreen : The fort is located in a hilly climate, so heat waves take a toll on it. To survive the merciless sun, apply sunscreen and wear a hat and climb the hill easily. 

Take Water : Take the water bottle to survive the heat waves. If you have forgotten to bring the water bottle, you don't have to worry, there are several vendors selling the water bottles outside the fort. 

Wear Comfortable Shoes : You have to do the trekking and walk around on the stones, the trek is uneven, so wear comfortable shoes to explore the fort with ease. 

Explore the Tunnels : One of the highlights of the fortress is to navigate the underground tunnels

Take the guided tour for deeper understanding : Opt for a guided tour to know about the history and intricate design of the fort 

Best Time To Visit San Felipe Fortress 

The best time to visit Fortaleza de San Felipe in Cartagena, Colombia is early in the day and within the months of January to April when the temperature is pleasant and mild to explore the place. The fortress is exposed to the sun and gets hot quickly, so visit there as early as possible before 10:00 am. 

How to get to the San Felipe Fortress 

In case your hotel is inside the walled city, you should reach the fortress within 15 minutes. Simply walk through the Getsemani district and cross the bridge on Calle 30, which leads to the commercial district. The fortress will be visible on the left side. It is also possible to take the bus. However, if you are staying a bit out of the way, you can take a taxi to reach your destination. The area may look a bit historic, but the place is very safe, although you should return to the hotel after sunset.